Mass. hospital staff trains for active shooters

The security director had the staff trained on what to do in the event of an active shooter because hospitals are vulnerable

By Christina Hager
CBS Boston

BOSTON — It’s a startling new employee training video that shows a man storming into a hospital waiting room, pulling out a gun, and demanding to see a doctor. Employees at Brigham and Women’s Hospital watched it Friday to learn how to take on an armed intruder.

“It seems like an every other day occurrence now, so we need to make sure we’re prepared in the unlikely event,” said the hospital’s Security Director Robert Cicharello.

The training comes in the wake of two shootings in the last week…at a New Jersey shopping mall, and at the Los Angeles Airport. Brigham and Women’s Emergency Management Director Barry Wante said hospitals are vulnerable because they are open to the public, and full of people healing from sicknesses and injuries. “A hospital needs to remain a welcoming environment,” he said.